Mike Russell 'must relax deplorable university admission rules'

Scotland’s Education Minister is under growing pressure to loosen “deplorable”
admission rules that force universities to discriminate against Scottish
students in favour of fee-paying foreign youngsters.

The Scottish Council of Independent Schools (SCIS), which represents private schools, urged Mike Russell to ensure places should be allocated on academic ability alone.

Dr John Halliday, rector of the High School of Dundee, one of the country’s most eminent independent schools, said even his pupils are finding it harder to win a university place and described the situation as “grossly unfair”.

Opposition parties called for a summit with university and student leaders to change the current system, which sees universities threatened with fines if they recruit more than their quota of Scottish youngsters.

The outcry came after the Daily Telegraph disclosed that many of the country’s most eminent universities are operating “two-tier” clearing systems that favour applicants from outside the EU and the rest of the UK.

They are offering places on hundreds of courses to fee-paying international and English students while declaring themselves “closed” to Scottish school-leavers, regardless of their respective exam results.

The two-tier system even affects subjects like Scottish studies, for which places on eight courses are being made available to home-grown youngsters compared to 90 for those from abroad.

SNP ministers have promised to “protect” the number of places for Scottish students but universities have confirmed this effectively operates as a cap on the number they can recruit.

The limit is required so the public purse can afford the SNP’s promise to provide Scottish youngsters with a ‘free’ degree. Universities are threatened with fines if they go more than 10 per cent above their quota.

Dr Halliday said: “Universities are under pressure (to turn away pupils) because of these quotas, which seem to be grossly unfair.

“I’m very concerned that universities are being pressurised by central government to restrict numbers of Scottish students and that’s something I deplore.”

John Edward, director of SCIS, said: “We would expect all students to be judged on their academic merits and their ability to undertake the research and independent study required at university level.

“Those who achieve a place at university work extremely hard to do so and this deserves to be recognised through a fair admissions process.”

He said private schools have a lot of students from abroad and they “would expect to be treated in the same way as other applicants”.

The clearing system is used by school leavers who did not attain the Higher grades they required to win an automatic university place.

Record exam results published last week saw a 3.1 per cent increase in the number of youngsters accepted into their first-choice institution, but greater competition for fewer remaining clearing places.

The Scottish Liberal Democrats said universities have “little or no scope” to provide extra places for home-grown students in light of the results.

Liam McArthur, the party’s education spokesman, said: “Mike Russell must convene a meeting with University Principals, NUS Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council to see what can be done,”

In a letter to the minister, Liz Smith, the Scottish Tory education spokesman, described the current situation as “grossly unfair and discriminatory”, especially as it appeared in some cases that rejected Scottish candidates had higher grades.

Robin Parker, NUS Scotland President, said it was “no surprise” that demand from Scottish students is far outstripping the number of places allocated for them.

“At a time when youth unemployment is at incredibly high levels, universities and the Scottish Government need to ensure as many people as possible are able to access university in Scotland,” he said.

Among the universities offering clearing places to international applicants only are Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow.

According to an up-to-date clearing database on the Ucas website, it is easier for a foreign student to win a place at a Scottish university for a degree in law, chemistry, mathematics, economics and even Gaelic.

Alastair Sim, the director of Universities Scotland, which represents the higher education sector, said: “The number of places available to Scottish and EU students at Scottish universities is controlled by the Scottish Government and therefore a decision for them.

“Places at Scottish universities for students from the rest of the UK are no longer subject to the same cap as places for Scottish and EU students.” However, he said the number earmarked for Scottish students has not been cut.

The Scottish Government said international students could not fill a university place allocated to a Scot. A spokesman said: “The situation with clearing places for Scottish students has been similar for a number of years now as the majority of students have already secured an offer at the university of their choice.”